Stupid Bad Weather

Cannot help but have to complain about the weather here. Two whole weeks, all rain. It's like December in Singapore.

Basically nothing can be done except to stay at home. All appointments have to be cancelled because of the rain. = (

ERrr.... Another raining Saturday that was an extension of the same weather throughout the whole week since Monday.

Sun seems to be sooo precious here. I have decided to post a picture of the sun to remind myself it is actually round.

Wah Lau Eh.. Really Morbid la...

One fine evening, while googling some sites, I stumbled upon this:
http://xxxdarknessxxxconsumesxxx.xanga.com/

** Warning!!! Please be mentally prepared to enter this site. ***

The last post for this site was December 02 2005. I wonder if the creator of this site is still alive.

If you are brave enough to start reading the entries, I would recommend reading the post:
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Letter From Ana

Seriously, it sends shivers down my spines, partially because of the wallpaper, more because of the content that was written. I felt very very sorry for whoever this person is, dead or alive. It's clearly depression... Reading some of the entries made me felt that how serious it is to be sick mentally, rather than physically. It basically consumes a human being from the inside out, and worst, it affects soo much even people surrounding you.

Anyway, I hope whatever was written is really fiction although it seems so real to me. This is the first time I've ever seen a blog written by someone who had serious depression, it gives a view of what it is like to have depression, and how serious it can be.

Also, it somehow reminds me (or probably everyone who read it), how important it is to stay happy and be optimistic. Face everyday life with courage, and the sun will always be shining brightly the next beautiful morning.

Sorry if this is really a bit too much for your taste whoever is reading this. But I seriously feel that this acts like a 反面教材. Telling you how lucky it is to be alive and how important it is to keep a healthy mind. Staying mentally healthy is as important as staying physically healthy!!

Keren Ann Zeidel and Barði Jóhannson - Lady & Bird

Album: Lady & Bird
Artist: Keren Ann Zeidel and Barði Jóhannson
Release: June 2006
Label: Rebel Group

Tracks:
01. Do What I Do
02. Shepard's Song
03. Stephanie Says
04. Walk Real Slow
05. Suicide Is Painless
06. The Morning After
07. Run In The Morning Sun
08. See Me Fall
09. Blue Skies
10. La Ballade Of Lady & Bird

This album is a collaboration album of Keren Ann and Barði Jóhannson. Very beautifully done album with wonderful voice of Keren Ann, each track linking to the next taking your into a mysterious journey of 2 person (child?) called Lady & Bird.
The lyrics are really interesting, perculiar, to be exact. Exploring the feelings, and understanding what's happening surrounding them. Innocent yet sadly morbid. Calm yet stirring.

Suggest to listen to this album from first track till the last and let the music take you through their journey. However, I particularly like the last song 'La Ballade Of Lady & Bird'.

Lyrics of 'La Ballade Of Lady & Bird'

Bird : Lady?

Lady : Yes Bird?

Bird : It's cold

Lady : I know

Lady : Bird... I cannot see a thing

Bird : It's all in your mind

Lady : I'm worried

Bird : No one will come to see us

Lady : Maybe they come but we just don't see them
What do you see?

Bird : I see what's outside

Lady : And what exactly is outside?

Bird : It's grown-ups

Lady : Well maybe if we scream they can hear us

Bird : Yeah, maybe we should try to scream

Lady : Ok, Bird

Lady & Bird : Heeeelp, Heeeelp
Can you hear us now ?
Hello !
Help !
Hello it's me
Hey
Can you see
Can you see me
I'm here
Nana come and take us
Hello
Are you there
Hello

Lady : I don't think they can hear us

Bird : I can hear you lady

Bird : Do you want to come with me lady

Lady : Will you be nice to me Bird

Lady : You're always be nice to me because you're my friend

Bird : I try but sometimes I make mistakes

Lady : Nana says we all make mistakes

Bird : Maybe we should scream more

Lady : Yes, Bird let's scream more

Lady & Bird : Help ! Help us ! Come on ! Help
Hello !
Help
Hello !
We're lost

Lady : I don't think they cannot see us

Bird : Nobody likes us

Lady : But they all seem so big

Bird : Maybe we should just jump

Lady : What if we fall from the bridge and then nobody can catch us

Bird : I don't know let's just see what happens

Lady : Okay

Bird : Come with me

Lady : Shall we do it together

Bird : Yeah

Lady & Bird : 1 2 3....Aaaaaaah

Bird : Lady?

Lady : Yes Bird

Bird : It's cold

Lady : I know

Lady : Bird...I cannot see a thing

Bird : It's all in your mind

Listen online: http://www.rhapsody.com/lady-bird/lady-bird

It's Official, I Am Lazy

Of course the whole worlds knows about it. Basically I am just lazy, in behaviour and thoughts, or rather, the lazy thinkings has translated to subconscious lazy behaviours. The reason for that it's official is not really because I haven't been going for drum practices dilligently on Sundays, nor that I am not inviting my friends over because the home sweet home is essentially a pig sty in the eyes of others.

So yesterday I went out drinking with my friend and were chatting stuff until she brought up the topic of astrolgy. She's basically super into astrology and even thought of becoming an astrologer before. I must say she is really super duber into it to even think of making it a profession. But anyway, that's besides the point. So she started stating that Capricorn has this determination in their eyes and show it out in general that they are determined and a hard nut to crack. I don't really think that applies to me, I am a soft marshmallow that goes with the flow a lot of times and always more than ready to give up on something. Then she continued saying that they are hard on themselves and people around them, especially people they loved. Well, I'll leave this for others to judge, but personally I do try to push myself sometimes. But then who doesn't? Is it not only right that you should consider push yourself to do something that you don't like? It doesn't only applies to Capricorn.

The last statement she said that usually Capricorns are rather lazy people, but because they push themselves hard, they do not allow themselves to become too lazy. This is really something new I've heard on astrologies analzysis on Capricorns. So, I proudly annouce that from now on, nobody should scold me for being lazy. Why? Because it's in the sign! wahahahahaha....

欠扁問答題

Yes... 娘娘又來了... 而且就算是通過skype也不放過講冷笑話或欠扁問答題的機會.

某個星期天的夜晚和娘娘在skype聊天... 突然...

娘娘：來來來，問你一個欠扁問答題...
我：不要不要... 又是從吳宗憲那裏聼來的是嗎?
娘娘：不是啦，你聼我說...
我： ok..等一下等一下, 讓我準備..
娘娘： 好.. 包公的臉爲什麽是黑的?
我： har??? simi? 給一點提示嘞....
娘娘： 不可以, 沒有提示啦, 給了就知道答案了.
我： okay lor... 可以不要給明顯的提示嘛~
娘娘: 哎呀沒有提示啦! 快一點猜. (表情興奮+賊笑著, 然後一邊啃著玉蜀黍!)
我: (抓頭髮拼命想...)
*五分鐘過後...*
娘娘: 好了沒有, 哎呀 你猜不到的啦... 答案揭曉!! 咚咚咚咚~~ (自己給自己敲鼓的背景音樂)
我: 等一下!!! 等一下!!! 我還沒有放棄!! 不要講出來!!
娘娘: 快點~ 答案揭曉了~ 咚咚咚咚~~ (又給自己敲鼓的背景音樂)...
我: okay! 我不相信猜不到~~!
*又過五分鐘...*
娘娘: okay, 最後機會了啊... 哈哈哈哈... 答案揭曉! (因爲越來越興奮, 啃玉蜀黍動作也激烈了)
我: (...) ok ok啦... 放棄啦!
娘娘: 哈哈~ 因爲包公臉上有一顆月亮嘛~ 那月亮只有黑夜的時候才會看得見, 所以他的臉就一直是黑的咯!! 娃哈哈哈~ (邊狂笑邊啃玉蜀黍!!)
我: 哇靠!!!! (直接從熒幕上消失, 頭拿去橦電腦了...)
娘娘: 娃哈哈哈~ 猜不到叻... 都跟你說了~~ (沾沾自喜地啃玉蜀黍...)
我: =_=~~ wah lau~~ 你哪裏來這個欠扁問題? (難以置信中, 並且被冷到了...)
娘娘: 米果醬咯~ 那天她來就告訴我這個欠扁問題的... 哈哈厲害嗎?...
我: (直接昏倒, 從熒幕上消失)....

米果醬是我六嵗的表妹... 我懷疑她被娘娘潛移默化了. 到處問人欠扁問答題....

5 Napkin Burger

It's delicious. Probably one of the best burger I've had in NY so far. Then again, I probably haven't been eating as much burger as one expects. So one fine Saturday, my friend decided to go try the place that she has listed in her to-go restaurant list according to her NY magazine guide to nice restaurants.

To begin with, the price was above average for dinning. On the condition that I had spent an indecent amount of money for dinner out the night before, this brunch made me (and my wallet) felt sadder. Setting that aside, I was willing to explore whatever my friend is interested in. So, we waited for a table, with the server ignoring us to pick a call and being a total bitch giving out the air of 'yes, we can afford to not do your business'. Then, the waiter who served us wasn't friendly either. In fact, most of the servers in that restaurant looks like they have lost ten thousand dollars in poker the last night.

So my friend was bitching about it and saying that she will never come back because of the lousy service. When the food was up, we couldn't believe the obscene amount of meat for the burger, fries as side, and, not a single piece of green can be found in this whole meal. All protein, tons of carb, and no green. How is this possible? Should you not at least have lettuce or even some pickle zucchini?

Anyway, the usual American portion was served and I could only eat 80% of everything, and leaving almost the fries untouched. Although I have given very negative feedback on the service and the totally unbalance meal, I must justify that the restaurant has a reason for drawing the crowd in the famous and competitive Hell's Kitchen. The burger was delicious, the meat patty was absolutely juicy and the bread is a perfect blend with the melting cheese. A messy but definitely fulfilling meal. My friend concluded that the name 5 Napkin was probably because the burger is so juicy, you will need to use up 5 Napkins. Interesting theory.

Some photos that I took at 5 Napkin and the burger:


Yes. They have the hooks used as decorations and I wonder if these were used hooks for the animals they used to make the burgers.


Oozing cheese, delicious medium-cooked ground chunk (10ounces, approximately 284grams.) with perfect combination of soft bread and caramelized onions... Heaven is near...


Not a single piece of green can be found in this meal.


Decorations, the hooks for the lights, the butcher scales and odd shapes bottles suspected to be soap dispensers.

Me and My Watches

Yes!! Yes!! I have finally bought watches from fossil this time!

Haha... It was no wonder that given the price cut at the factory outlet I would be determined this time to buy some watches. I planned for two, and it turned out 4. But, I was happy about it. Introducing my four new models...









The more I think of it, the more I want to go back and buy somemore. The only regretful thing is that I did not buy any funky digital watch.

是熱的咯

哇靠! It's hot and stuffy in my room now!! I just finished cooking and realized that even I open up all the windows and the door, the room is still damn hot and air is not moving!

And I was so happy that summer has finally (suddenly) come! But I forgot to get myself a fan and refuse to switch on the air-con because I was trying to be green (the fact is really trying to lower the bills). With the pathetic windows far away from the kitchen, there was a danger of having stroke by the stove. -_-~

Today's update is from office laptop, while having my personal laptop switched for background music, at the same time having TV on for the Mets versus Marlins game. Somehow I feel this comforting, all electronic devices surrounding me at home. Guess I am really a geek, like what my friend calls me 宅女 (お宅).

Nothing much ongoing recently in life. Wanted to go write about the gyoza dinner on Sunday but no inspiration at the moment... probably because it's too hot and I am suffering from brain juice dehydration. ha...

Bored... At Home...

Nothing better to do now, most of the Fridays I am at home. Including this one. Actually, there are a lot of other things to do, like cleaning the house or cooking dinner for myself (meat is still thawing). So while wasting away doing nothing, I have decided to do a little blog.

This week has been crazy, somehow stressed and it seems I am out every other day. Which is good, thus I don't understand how is it that I still feel bored when I have only a few precious days alone at my home.

Monday was out helping a friend move to New York. She's got an apartment in Brooklyn and stays at another friend's house in Jersey City temporary. Initially I thought my job was simple, drive to Jersey City to pick her up and go to Brooklyn. Did not know that her assets were in Staten Island. So after sending my colleague back home, I drove to Jersey City to pick her up, which by then was already around 7 plus. I then realized that her assets were in Staten Island, New York. The plans changed. I had to drive to Staten Island to pick up her stuff, then drive over to Brooklyn. The problem was that all this has to be done via Manhattan.

The journey began. It took almost an hour from Jersey City to Staten Island because of peak commuting time in the evening. Thanks to GPS and a little sense of direction I reached Staten Island without losing my way. The traffic was crazy at Holland Tunnel and within Manhattan itself. I also realized that toll charges going into Manhattan is just another form of extortion. The worst happened when I did not realize and went turned in front of a howling fire engine, in Manhattan. Guessed my friend probably stopped breathing when she saw me do that. She probably have never done it in her 10 over years of driving.

Yet, I had the chance to see the other side of Manhattan from Brooklyn. Simply breath-taking. It was near, yet out of Manhattan as you drive along the high and bridge. It was there when I realized why New York is so charming. It really is very beautiful and such a sight too see.

Finally reaching Staten Island, I managed to catch my breath from the exciting drive at her aunt's house. And we are off again after her stuff went into my car. This time, the drive was much shorter but the toll charges were still expensive. We finally reached her new home in Brooklyn, a loft made out of and old warehouse, with many similar ones around the neighbourhood. It looks like a place for artists and musicians and different from the rest of the so many houses I have seen in New Jersey and Manhattan itself. The place was torn down, but the inside is absolutely cool. Super big living room (probably a dance studio hall size) with tall ceiling, open style kitchen, a spiral staircase leading down to the rooms (though I must admit I don't like it for the fear of breaking my neck or leg). Decorations are definitely artistic, scribbles on the wall and a big flat screen television mounted on the wall. Regret not taking photos of it. It's well worth the effort and I hope she can leave comfortably, in a city where she dreamt of living in for so many years.

So, to give a little visual of my adventure on Monday. Origin A is my workplace New Jersey, Destination F is my home New Jersey, Destination C is somwhere in Jersey City New Jersey, then Destination D is Staten Island New York, Destination E is Brooklyn New York, then back to my home, F. A total of 59.8miles according to Google's calculation. That's 95.68km of drive. Not bad for novice driver. I figured that I must have driven more miles than any of an average 3-week Singaporean novice driver.

Some Words

Some words bring enlightenment. It makes you wonder for a minute about what you have been living. Sometimes, I regretted not reading enough.

Quote: The Tibetan Booking of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche.

14th Dalai Lama on his foreword in this book: Naturally, most of us would like to die a peaceful death, but it is also clear that we cannot hope to die peacefully if our lives have been full of violence, or if our minds have mostly been agitated by emotions like anger, attachment, or fear. So if we wish to die well, we must learn how to live well. Hoping for a peaceful death, we must cultivate peace in our mind, and in our way of life.

Unquote.

More than 25 random things about me...

Facebook.com
Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose ur frenz to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.


1. Loves to talk

2. Loves to eat popcorn before the movie starts, but not eat during the movie.

3. Enjoy the moment of sneezing, but hates it when the nose and eyes are all itchy and watery

4. Wants to drive out of New Jersey by 2009

5. Hates people who are not sincere and does not know how to deal with them

6. Is just plain lazy most of the times to be bothered with anything, thus the easy-going'ness

7. Loves Tokyo

8. Loves the smell of air with grass, trees, flowers or slightly burnt smell

9. Too much alochol gives a wierd reaction of talking in Japanese but all grammatically wrong

10. Does not know how to flirt

11. Totally internet download addict

12. Loves looking at photos of friends and where they have been

13. Strives to fill up my megasize mp3 player and make it into a radio station

14. Cannot resist buying new candies and gums with interesting packaging

15. Cries when watching anything sad

16. Likes it when girls who are really cute acts cute

17. Likes watching through condominium or houses's windows from the outside

18. Often wonders about life and what it gives to me

19. Likes to write during times of inspiration, but 3 minutes later finds it stupid (this 25 random things is an edited version)

20. Feels inferior sometimes for unknown reason

21. Likes walking

22. Loves romance stories book, for the reason that my life is never romantic

23. Likes to hear about other people's life, for all the drama that's lacking in my own

24. Sucker for dark chocolate, in fact, anything nice chocolate

25. Still don't like people who are chinese and can only speak English

26. Hates people who are racist

27. Does not like being angry

28. Dreamer, loves to imagine 'what if I am...' as a way to destress.

29. Does actually have a sense of fashion, but does not wear it

30. Is a snob sometimes

31. Likes to be complimented, sincerely

32. Cannot remember the song title and artist, although the song may have been heard umpteen times

33. Feels quality of life is important, and does not mind spending within means (aka materialistic)

34. Feels everything is nice about branded bags, except for the outrageous price

35. Is afraid of girls who cries in front of her

36. Does not know how to handle her own emotions most of the times

That's me... among others.

Driving... How is it that I always cannot get it right?

So for friends who knew, I just got my provisional license finally after 9 months in NJ and got a car 3 weeks ago. I am officially able to drive! and officially the road hazard on NJ. Beware, drivers! I will turn your everyday commuting into your worst nightmare!~ ** corny horror music at background **

Anyway, I am being super duper adventurous with my car, going to all the places I have never been to despite being a newbie who doesn't even know the traffic rules well enough to drive. I think I should be put into a defensive driving programme or something.

So, I think I will try to update a little of my driving experience so far, and also make it a point to note down all the scars on that car despite being less than 6 months old and very well taken care of by the previous owner.

Today being very bored at home and that the rain finally stopped in the late afternoon. I decided to take a ride to Ikea at Elizabeth, a 45-minute drive from home, via the highway. Fixed my GPS and set to go. On the way on the normal road on Boulevard East, it was all fine and I got my confident that I will reach there without any problem.

So I took a turn into NJ Turnpike, at a junction where probably 10 different roads meet together from Hoboken, Weehawken. It was a great traffic mess because this is also the same point where it leads to New York. At 5 plus, it was probably the peak. Thanks to GPS, I had to switch to the most left lane and I was at the most right lane. The left turn signal was blinking furiously for more than 3 minutes and no cars wanted to give way to me, cars behind was honking at me to move forward. In the process of looking over my left shoulder and moving the car forward, I have successfully scratched the right side of the car against the wall because my hand on the wheels moved to the right. Scared myself to death with the scratching sound and I stopped immediately.

So leaving no choice as I approached nearer and nearer to the turn, I had to turn to the left at the slightest chance and of course, the driver from behind was forced to stop and was cursing and swearing at me. I think if he was any slower to braking, then I would have my first car accident in just 3 weeks and the company would be chasing me with higher insurance premium to pay. This shows that if you don't know the way, check out the route first and not just rely 100% on GPS. And I have been warned previously by my boss and other users of GPS.

So I continued my way through a very crowded highway and almost died of heart attack because of people switching and cutting into my lane every 2 seconds. Probably I also caused heart attacks to people while I was trying to switch lane and avoiding myself going from the wrong exit.

Finally reaching Ikea, my heart was already at the mouth, I then missed a turn and went into the road that leads to the Elizabeth seaport. I made an illegal U-turn to get back, and the next thing I saw is a sign that says 'Area under camera survillance'. Great, I am going to get a ticket because they found me making an illegal turn at a seaport road.

I only bought a few things at Ikea, just to make my road trip worth it, also giving myself some time to calm down. But I had to rush out of the place before it gets too dark. Didn't even get to eat my favourite Ikea meatball because I was afraid of driving on the highway in the night.

Surprsingly, the trip back so much more easier, probably with the lesser car on the road and already too dark to notice any other dangers... hahaha... The highway now seems less intimidating. So, finally reaching home safely but already dark, the only scar for the road trip I have yet to inspect it. I have to recover from the aftermaths of the drive in general. Then, I will be off tomorrow again for an even farther destination... Woodbury Common here I come!

It's good to be back

This is the 2nd week of coming back to SG. It feels good to be back, away from the cold weather. It is getting a bit too cold and I am glad to be in a hot humid, forever summer island to warm up a bit.

More importantly, I am able to meet all the friends that I do miss very much. Especially true if you do not have some one you can talk in Singlish (and yes, I definitely miss 'wah lau's, a lot), and get the same warm response in US.

I do not have to re-introduce myself for the 101th times to the many people that will not remember me after they turn their faces, or that we will never meet each other again. It is good to say 'How are you?' and hear people complain about the nitty gritty things in their everyday life which I missed for almost half a year.

Good to play badminton, sweat it all, and talk crap + tons of gossips for 2 hours and go for fish soup bee hoon with a lot of chilli padis. Good to make use of Chinese New Year, go for gatherings at friend's place, gamble a bit and catch up with each other. Good to go to the office, see the same colleagues, making use of snacking and have a chit-chat session etc.

Happy to see my sister again, and do the same crappy stuff, calling each other names, have pillow fights (this is a healthy sport to keep yourself engergetic). Happy to see mama and ah pa again, talking funny jokes.

More than ever, I appreciate to go home, with lights already on, TVs on, and 4 people already at home, talking, eating dinner, or even just doing their own things. Probably the other reason I feel I should leave for SG is to appreciate more of what I already have, and tell myself that I am not doing so bad afterall.

Eventhough, of course, the fact that SG is still a bit too crowded at a lot of places, some people are still behaving uncivilized, transportation can still be a pain at times, all around there are forever constructions on-going etc.. But whatever good comes, there will always the bad side of it.

I wish I could stay slightly longer, not that I do not want to go back exactly, but I want to feel something familar for a while longer. I think this is homesick, I don't exactly miss it when I am in US, but I do like it more when I come back.

It's good to be back, get a rest and get ready to move on. Hopefully, be able to find more meaningful things to do in US other than just work.

Let it snow Let it snow!

So, I haven't really been blogging for quite some time. Probably because I have lost my inspiration to really write anything funny or even anything about my life. And more importantly, I realized I may have also lost my sense of humour to all the overwhelming new experiences and new feelings I have to deal with.

So, here I am, trying to write something about today. I hope I don't sound as boring as the weather channel. (Man, am I finally getting into talking jokes that only the American can understand or what?)

The weather today was snowy. Really snowing heavily since the morning all the way till the afternoon. Just cannot believe how much it can snow here, though it's really exciting and I am screaming like a kid to go out and play inside my heart, but physically stuck in a boring meeting room.

So when finally the official email is broadcasted to close the office early, I was just waiting for my co-worker to send me back home asap! But then hor... both hardworking Japanese seemed determined to stay until the storm is over. Luckily one kind soul that stays at neighbouring town offered to give me a ride back. So happily I brought my big bag of coats for dry cleaning and wearing all my 'gear' getting all ready to go out for his car which he parks outside.

The moment the door open, I was squirming happily with all the snow floating outside and 3-inch thick on the floor... Both my colleague and I tripped over the kerb which wasn't really visible with so much white stuff on the floor. Happily I hopped towards the parking lot and went inside his car while he got to the back with the scraper to scrap off the snow from his car. Enjoying every moment of it inside the car, looking at the snowy weather outside...

Then we are off to the road. This is when I reazlied the horrors of snowing and probably I won't be driving back home during winter on snowy days. So he had to start his SUV real slow because his tires are dry and the road is cold with a frozen layer of ice. Throughout the whole trip, he was trying to switch between 2 wheels drive and 4 wheels drive to see which is better (basically 2 wheel is smoother to drive but higher danger of skidding, 4 wheels drive will be rougher but more stable). A few times I can actually feel the tires are spinning as he is slowing down to a stop, which converts into the danger that the car may not be able to stop at all. Doesn't help to calm me down when he explained to me all the technical stuff about his car skidding and SUV has higher chances or flipping over when making a turn etc. etc...

Luckily I am home safely and typing down the little adventure on snowstorm on the road. I have to thank my colleague who really really is a kind soul that offered to give me a ride back eventhough it is a detour. I think this kinda incident will continue to happen throughout Dec to even Feb. I was told that I don't have to worry that I will miss any snow because there's going to be a lot of snow in this cold winter.

Departure Lounge - Jetlag Dreams

One of my favourite album. This is an all-instrumental album with only 7 tracks. I do not think the other albums by Departure Lounge is of anything like this...


Album: Jetlag Dreams
Artist: Departure Lounge
Released: 2001
Label: Bella Union Records

Tracks:
1. "Equestrian Skydiving"
2. "Runway Doubts"
3. "Too Late To Die Young"
4. "A Strange Descent"
5. "Purple Fluffy Haze"
6. "Charles de Gaulle To Belleville"
7. "Beyond The Beltway"

Listen online:
http://mp3.rhapsody.com/departure-lounge/jetlag-dreams